Help the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill San Francisco E action

http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=7537805

Help the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
Sign IDA's petition in support of legislation to protect the parrots' habitat

In December 2005 and January 2006, IDA took up the cause of the world-famous birds who are the fascinating subjects of the acclaimed documentary "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." At that time, an absentee landowner of a North Beach property had cut down three of five cypress trees that comprise a key part of the parrots' San Francisco habitat. These were the same trees where the birds were seen in the movie feeding their young and hiding from predatory hawks circling overhead.

The film also documents the special friendship the parrots share with adoring caretaker Mark Bittner, who lives on the Greenwich Steps of Telegraph Hill and has spent the last decade studying, feeding, caring for and protecting the flock of over 200 birds. Without the cypresses, the parrots would no longer have a secure perch from which to watch for hawks in the Greenwich Steps garden, because they are the tallest trees in the area. Mark managed to save the remaining two trees by running out of his cottage and standing between the cypresses and chainsaws, refusing to move until the engines were silenced and negotiations for their protection resumed.

Now, well over a year later, San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty has proposed legislation that would provide for the pruning and maintenance of the two surviving Monterey cypress trees, mandate the planting of up to six new parrot-friendly trees, and protect the property owner from legal liability should the dying trees happen to fall before being replaced. The Northeast San Francisco Conservancy has raised around $5,000 from donations, which is enough to pay an arborist to prune and preserve the trees until the new ones are established....provided Dufty's legislation passes.

IDA supporters played a major role in convincing San Francisco officials to protect the parrots' habitat in the first place. More than 2,700 caring people around the world signed IDA's original petition in support of preserving the parrots' habitat, and Supervisor Dufty said he received more emails in favor of helping the parrots than on any other issue since taking office in 2003. In a recent article published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Dufty is quoted as saying, "We heard loud and clear from around the world that this is a special habitat. It's an example to other cities that they can work creatively to protect their animal wonders."

According to Judy Irving, producer/director of "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" (who is now married to Bittner), "It's the great work of In Defense of Animals that Dufty is talking about: Your on-line petition and the IDA-inspired flood of emails supporting the protection of wild parrot habitat (and especially these two cypress trees) provided the rationale, motivation, and support for the pending legislation." Seeing the parrots flying freely in the wilds of San Francisco warms the hearts of residents and visitors alike. IDA is proud to have been able to help the parrots, and we will continue doing so until their habitat is secure.

1) Please sign IDA's new petition to urge the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to protect the wild parrots' habitat on Telegraph Hill. IDA will present the petition during the Land Use Committee hearing at San Francisco City Hall on Monday, March 5th, so we need to gather as many signatures as possible before then. Once you sign the petition, be sure to ask your friends and family members to sign as well so we can let San Francisco's elected officials know that the whole world is watching. If the Land Use Committee approves Supervisor Dufty's proposal, it will then go to the full San Francisco Board of Supervisors for a vote.

2) If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, please attend the Land Use Committee hearing: if parrot advocates pack the house, the committee members will be even more impressed by how seriously people take this issue.

What: San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee hearing
When: Monday, March 5th starting at 1:00 p.m.
Where: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 263, San Francisco (directions)

2) Purchase a copy of "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" on DVD or VHS, as well as Mark Bittner's best-selling book "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story...With Wings."


http://www.markbittner.net/parrots_central.html

Cross posted on activist.